Songes of sundrie kindes First, Aires To Be Svng To the Lute, and Base Violl. Next, Songes of sadnesse, for the Viols and Voyce. Lastly, Madrigalles, for fiue voyces |
 | Songes of sundrie kindes |  |
The following poems are scored for music in the source text. Where poems are not stanzaic, no attempt has been made to reconstruct the metrical lines. Variations for different voices have been ignored. Repetition marks have been ignored
Ad Authorem.
If that the Shepheards God did merit prayse,Who rurall musicke forth of reedes could raise,
Why should the feare of base detraction
Bury thy Arte in black obliuion?
The sweet resounding of whose pleasing straines,
Delightes the sences, captiuates the braines;
Wrapping the soule in contemplation,
With sweetest musickes delectation.
Produce them therefore, let them come to light,
Thy musicke is a charme against despight.
[In home-bred springs thy muse harn dipt her quill]
In home-bred springs thy muse harn dipt her quill,Yet like the eare inchaunting Philomel,
In Countrey groues obscurde, displaies herskill,
With various tunes, her feruent zeale to tell.
Nor on the steame of terrene prayse doth dwell,
But sometimes mounts her cloud aspiring wing;
To pierce the walles of heauen, the gates of hell,
While she doth sweete contritions story sing.
Such are the layes that please the heauenly King.
Should enuious mortals do thy labour wrong,
Celestiall spirits will attend thy song.
[As once Appelles the craftes man controlde]
As once Appelles the craftes man controlde,For passing his lasts limit all too bolde,
Disliking what his skill could neuer mend:
So I could wish to each man (as a friend)
That neuer got his gammut yet by hart,
Forbeare to censure so diuine an arte,
Least with the Cobler he be set to learne
To speake of nought, but what he doth discerne.
But you sence-rauishers of mortall men,
That ioies all louers, comforts in distresse,
With fauour looke vpon all faults, and then
What is amisse, I pray in loue redresse:
For should he bide the storme of enuies blast,
These same vntimely fruites might proue the last,
And he neglect his after comming time,
Because his hopes were nipt before their prime.
[Said Pithager true, that each mans seuered soule]
Said Pithager true, that each mans seuered souleMust be a Pilgrime? then if ere thou dye,
Thy spirit must not drinke of Letbes boule,
But into a siluer plumed Swanne shall flye:
That though thou diest is may inshrined be
In her that is th'embleme of Harmony.
The first are Ayres, to be sung to the Lute and Base Violl
[I. Shaded with Olive trees]
Shaded with Oliue trees sate CelestinaShaded with Oliue trees sate Celestina singing then the warbling birdes more sweet, harmony ringing wt curious cost ye gold embost her fingers duelie placed whiles voice & hād both at cōmand each other truely graced Thus vsing time not loosing time right well apaide shee closd her ditty with oh
[II. Flora sweete wanton]
Flora sweete wanton bee not ouer coyFlora sweete wanton bee not ouer coy. Nay, then in faith if you wil needs be gon Farewell sweet Flora, sweete fancy adue, farewel, till Flota her fancy renue. tis pretty, prettie to liue a maide.
[III. Ye bubling springs]
Ye bubling springs ye gētle musick makesYe bubling springs ye gētle musick makes to louers plaints with hart sore throbs immixt, when as my deare this way her pleasure takes, tell her with teares how firme my loue is fixt: And Philomel report, my timerous feares and eccho sound, my heighoes in her eares: But if she aske if I for loue will dye, tell her good faith not I.
[IIII. I wil not force]
I wil not force my thoughts to yeeldI wil not force my thoughts to yeeld to such desire where light affection onely fewelleth the fire: thogh Cupid's a god I feare not his rod Cupid may hit, but I do not feare it: Cupids arrow hurts, but doth not kill: Cupid allures me, but cānot procure me: Cupid hath his might and I my will.
[V. I pray thee sweet Iohn away]
I pray thee sweet Iohn awayI pray thee sweet Iohn away, I cannot I cannot tell how to loue thee, pish, phew, in faith all this will not moue me, O mee, I dare not before our marriage day: if this will not moue thee, gentle Iohn come quickly kisse mee, come quickely kisse mee, quick, kisse mee, and let me bee gone. downe, downe a downe downe.
[VI. Nay will ye faith]
Nay will ye faith, will ye faith, this is more thēNay will ye faith, will ye faith, this is more thē needs this fooling, I cannot abide leaue of or in faith I must chide, see now faith here are proper deedes, haue done haue done then I now bewaile my hap repentance followes with an after clap aye me my ioyes are murdered with a frowne and sorrow puls and sorrowe puls vntimely pleasure down ad a down
[[V]II. What is beauty]
What is beauty but a breath?What is beauty but a breath? fancies twin at birth & death the colour of a damaske rose, ye fadeth whē ye northwind blowes: Tis such ye though all sorts do craue it, they know not what it is that haue it: a thing that som time stoops not to a king and yet most open to the cōmonst thing: for she that is most fair, is open to the aire.
[VIII. Stay Laura]
Stay Laura stay, doe not so soonde partStay Laura stay, doe not so soonde part frō him whō thou hast robbed of a heart, heare my laments view but my brinish teares, my brinish tears, onewil moue pity the other deafe thine eares: flye me not then flye mee not then I know thou dost but iest, and wilt returne thy theft with interest.
[IX. Inconstant Laura]
Inconstant Laura makes mee death to craueInconstant Laura makes mee death to craue: for wanting her I must embrace my graue: a little graue will ease my malady and set me free frō loues fell tyranny: Intombe me thē, & shew her where I lye and say I dide, and say I dide, throgh hir inconstancy.
The Second are Songs of Sadnes, for the Viols and Voice
The Dittie of the X. Song.
1
When I behold my former wandring way,And diue into the bottome of my thoughts,
And thinke how I haue led that soule astray,
Whose safetie with so precious bloud was bought:
With teares I cry vnto the God of truth,
Forgiue O Lord, the errours of my youth.
2
A blessed Sauiour left his heauenly throne,To seeke my straying soule, and bring it backe:
Himselfe the way, the way, I should haue gone,
The way I left, and sought eternall wracke,
Which makes me crye in depth of bitter ruth,
Forgiue O Lord, the errours of my youth.
3
Inestimable gaine he did proposeT'allure my erring fancy to retire:
But idle fancy would haue none of those,
Delighting still to wallowe in the mire,
Wherefore I crye, vnto the God of truth,
Forgiue O Lord, the errours of my youth.
4
I saw the way, the way it selfe did cleare it,I knew the way, the way it selfe did shew it,
I markt the way, but fondly did forbeare it,
I left the way, because I would not know it:
But now I cry vnto the God of truth;
Forgiue O Lord, the errours of my youth.
5
Iesu the onely way, most perfect true,Iesu the onely truth of heauenly life,
Iesue the onely life, that doth renue
My sinne-sicke soule, halfe slaine by Sathans strife.
With teares I beg, teach me the way of truth;
Forgiue O Lord, the errours of my youth.
The Dittie of the XI. Song.
1
Man first created was in single life,To serue his God in fruitfull Paradise,
Till heauenly wisedome saw he lackt a wife
To comfort him, and giue him good aduise:
And from mans side a rib he did remoue,
And woman made, which wo to man did proue.
2
With tender flesh the hollow place did fill,Neare to his heart, which made his heart relenting.
The stubborne rib makes woman ful of will,
Hard bone, soft flesh, she rash, but he repenting:
Thus gainst poore man his owne flesh did rebell,
And woman (wo to man) brought man to hell.
3
Yet from the flesh, which to this bone did cleaue,A second came, from whence a branch did spring,
Not wo to man, but woing man to leaue
An earthly state, to serue the heauenly King.
Though woman (wo to man) made man to fall,
This Sauiours bloud hath made amends for all.
[XII. Who keepes in compasse]
Who keepes in compasse his desiresWho keepes in compasse his desires, and calmes his minde, his mind with sweet content, needes no to feare, not to feare, needes not to feare those furious fires, whose force will all in smoke bee spent, whiles proud ambition blowes the coales, that yeeldes no warm'th to humble soules. Whiles
[XIII. Let dread of pain]
Let dread of pain for sinne in after timeLet dread of pain for sinne in after time, let shame to see thy selfe, thy selfe ensnared so: let griefe, let griefe conceiu'd for fowle accursed crime, let hate of sinne the worker of thy woe, with dread, with shame, with griefe, with hate, enforce to deaw thy cheeks with tears, with tears of deep remorse. With dread
[XIIII. So hate of sin]
So hate of sin shall cause Gods loue to growSo hate of sin shall cause Gods loue to grow: so griefe shall harbor hope within thy hart, so dred shal cause the floud of ioy to flow, so shame shall send, shall send sweete solace to thy smart, to thy smart, so loue, so hope, so ioy, so solace sweet, shall make thy soule. in heauenly blisse to fleete.
[XV. Woe where such hate]
Woe where such hate, doth no such loue allureWoe where such hate, doth no such loue allure: wo where such grief doth make no hope proceede: woe, where such dread doth no such ioy procure: wo where such shame doth no such solace breed: wo, wo wher no hate, no grief, no dread, no shame, doth neither loue, hope, ioy, or solace frame.
The Third, Madrigals, for fiue voices
[XVI. England receiue]
England receiue, the rightfull king with chearefull hartEngland receiue, the rightfull king with chearefull hart & hand the present Ioy, the future hope of this his loyall land, his birth makes chalenge to his right, his vertues to our loue, both are his due both are our debt, which nothing can remoue, long haue he life, long haue he health, long haue hee happie raigne, his seede possesse his realmes in peace, till Christ shall come againe,
[XVII. Sweet Nimphes]
Sweet Nimphes that trippe alongSweet Nimphes that trippe along that trippe along the English laūds go meet faire Oriana beauties Queen, vertue inuites, and chastitie commaunds your golden tresses trim with garlands greene, for such a sight hath not before, hath not before bin seene: then sing in honour of her and Diana: Long liue in ioy the faire chaste Oriana, Long liue in ioy, ye faire chaste Oriana.
[XVIII. Long haue the Shepheards sung this sōg before]
Long haue the Shepheards sung this sōgLong haue the Shepheards sung this sōg before this song before, as prophecying what should come to passe: the gentle Nimphes henceforth lament no more lament no more, henceforth lament no more, the times are chang'd, it is not as it was, Dian shal flowre, & Venus fade like grasse, like grasse: then sing in honour of her and Diana: Long liue in ioy, lōg liue in ioy, in ioy in ioy in ioy in ioy the faire chaste Oriana.
[XIX. Lady]
Lady, the melting Christall of your eyeLady, the melting Christall of your eye, like frozen drops vpon your cheeks did lye, mine eie was dauncing, on them with delight, and saw loues flames within them burning bright, which did mine eie intice to play, with burning ice, but O, my hart, my hart: hus sporting, thus sporting, with desire, my carelesse eye did set my hart on fire. but
[XX. O that a drop]
O that a drop from such a sweet fount flyingO that a drop from such a sweet fount flying, from should flame like fire, & leaue my hart a dying, and leaue my hart a dying, my hart a dying, I burn, my teares can neuer drench it, I burne my teares can neuer drench it, till in your eyes I bath my hart and quench it, but there alas, alas loue with his fire lyes sleeping, but there alas, there alas, loue with his sire lyes sleeping, and all conspire to burne to burne my hart with weeping.
[XXI. Come away sweet loue]
Come away sweet loue & play theeCome away sweet loue & play thee, least griefe & care betray thee, fa la la la, Come away sweet loue & play thee, least griefe & care betray thee, fa la la la, leaue off this sad lamenting, & take thy harts contenting, the Nimphes to sport inuite thee, and running in and out delights thee, fa la la la leaue
| Songes of sundrie kindes | |